Maplewood Memorial Cemetery

Americans invented the coffin torpedo to curb co**se stealing after the Civil War. These modifications to a grave included a device that acted as a landmine or a modified gun that would shoot if the coffin was disturbed.

A lawn park cemetery is one where a commemorative plaque is placed at the ground level and is positioned at the head of the grave. It is covered by grass without any trace of a burial on the ground.

The words cemetery and graveyard both refer to a place where the dead are buried, but the latter refers more to a burial ground that is within a churchyard. A graveyard is also much smaller than a cemetery.

In an interesting flash of intuition, the headstone of one T.G. Brownell was struck and destroyed by lightning. While this may not be unusual, the fact that he was killed by a bolt of lightning is an unusual twist.

Did you know there are about 5,000 soldiers that have never been identified who are buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia? The Tomb of the Unknowns, also referred to as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, is a memorial to soldiers lost in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Does the sight of withering flowers often make you sad? While flowers can be a touching way to honor those who have passed, we’ll be sure to remove any that are left at plots after they begin to lose their beauty.

Did you know that Arlington National Cemetery was established in 1864 during the Civil War? The area used was the grounds of the Arlington House, which had been owned by the family of Gen. Robert E. Lee's wife.

Ever wondered how many graves fit in one acre of land? Well if so, it's estimated that for the standard cemetery grave size of 3' x 8', one acre of land will provide enough space for up to 1,815 graves.

Cremation is becoming a more viable choice for some families instead of a burial. The cost of cremation is considerably less than a traditional funeral service with burial. You can still have a ceremony to remember your loved one even if you've chosen cremation over burial.

Did you know that family bibles are considered primary sources when it comes to cemetery records? Churches must also make records of burials in their cemeteries.

Did you know that Arlington National Cemetery was originally the front lawn of the Robert E. Lee plantation? Outrage was so great after the Civil War that legislators chose that site to be a harsh reminder to General Lee of the destruction they believed he caused. The land came to him through his wife, a great granddaughter of George Washington.

A monumental inscription is a statement or comment carved or otherwise added to a memorial, grave marker, or cemetery plaque. Although long inscriptions have fallen out of favor in recent decades, they are common in historic cemeteries and help amateur as well as professional genealogists piece together family histories.